PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Graduate student defenseman Erin McArdle (Macomb, Mich./Belle Tire) became the Plattsburgh State women's ice hockey program's all-time points leader among defensemen, as the second-ranked Cardinals topped SUNY Potsdam, 7-2, in Northeast Women's Hockey League (NEWHL) action on Saturday afternoon at the Ronald B. Stafford Ice Arena. With the victory, the Cardinals stretch their unbeaten streak to 14 games.
 
Plattsburgh State is ranked at No. 2 in the DCU/USCHO.com Women's Division III Top-10 Poll.
 
McArdle finished with a goal and an assist, with her goal at 4:19 of the third period serving as the record-breaking point. She now has 92 points for her career, eclipsing the former mark among blueliners of 91 set by Allison Era from 2010-14.
 
Graduate student forward Annie Katonka (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Penguins Elite) recorded a hat trick, which she completed just 2:48 into the second period. Junior forward Ivy Boric (Newport Beach, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) added a goal and an assist as well to Plattsburgh State's cause.
 
The Cardinals were scoreless on three power-play opportunities, while the Bears were 1-for-2 with the extra skater. Plattsburgh State finished with a 63-21 edge in shots on goal.
 
Plattsburgh State rises to 19-2-1 overall (14-0-1 NEWHL) with the win and next visits SUNY Canton on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m. Potsdam falls to 8-13-1 overall (6-9-1 NEWHL) with the loss and next hosts Oswego State on Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m.
 
Katonka opened scoring at 3:17 of the first period. She won an offensive zone face-off back to McArdle on the left point, and McArdle took a shot that Katonka redirected into the back of the net.
 
Sophomore forward Mae Olshansky (Wilmette, Ill./North American Hockey Academy) made it a 2-0 game 1:35 later, as graduate student forward Kaitlin Drew-Mead (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Buffalo Bisons) carried the puck in the zone before Olshansky buried a loose puck from the high slot.
 
Potsdam cut the deficit in half at 14:00 of the first period. Junior forward Emily DellaNeve picked off a pass in the offensive zone and flicked a centering pass to first-year forward/defenseman Lyvia Chambers. Chambers took a shot that got caught up in traffic in front of the net before DellaNeve poked in the rebound.
 
Just 1:27 later, Katonka extended the margin back out to two goals. Katonka won an offensive-zone face-off and quickly backhanded a shot through the five-hole to score unassisted.
 
Katonka completed the hat trick at 17:12 of the second period. As Boric entered the offensive zone on the rush, she sent a drop pass back to Katonka, and Katonka wound up scoring high glove side. First-year defenseman Mattie Norton (Glen Carbon, Ill./St. Louis Lady Blues) also earned an assist on the play.
 
McArdle's record-breaking tally came at 4:19 of the third. Senior forward Taylor Whitney (Livonia, Mich./Little Caesars) passed back to senior defenseman Sierra Benjamin (Palm Coast, Fla./Northwood School) on the right point, and Benjamin passed D-to-D to McArdle. McArdle then took a shot that navigated through traffic and past the Bear netminder.
 
Boric lit the lamp just 22 seconds later when she one-timed a centering feed from senior forward Sara Krauseneck (Saginaw, Mich./Northern Cyclones) past the goaltender high glove side. Senior defenseman Emma Killeen (Watertown, Conn./The Gunnery) also earned an assist.
 
With 10:18 gone in the third, Potsdam drew within 6-2 when junior forward Megan Teachout scored on the power play. Junior forward Kaylee Merrill passed D-to-D to senior forward Ellie Cleary, and Cleary sent a short pass to Teachout at the top of the left circle. She deked around a Cardinal defender and wound up scoring glove side.
 
Junior forward Tatem Cheney (Ottawa, Ontario/Ottawa Lady 67's) closed out scoring at 14:06 of the third. Cheney passed to first-year forward Tes Hurd (Ann Arbor, Mich./HoneyBaked) on the left wing on the rush, and Hurd sent the puck toward Cheney in the low slot. Cheney then slid a shot through the five-hole for her third goal of the year.
 
Junior goaltender Lilla Nease (Lake Forest, Calif./Anaheim Lady Ducks) turned aside 19 shots in the win for the Cardinals, while sophomore goaltender Ellie Zurfluh made 56 stops in the loss for the Bears.

UFirst Federal Credit Union is the official Zamboni sponsor of Plattsburgh State men's and women's ice hockey.